Neighbors Say Roadwork Near Harvard and Van Ness Is Cutting Tree Roots and Threatening Trees

Neighbors near Harvard and Van Ness avenues in central Fresno say city roadwork crews are cutting tree roots in a way that could damage or kill the trees. Some residents have parked their cars in front of the construction to try to stop the work.

What residents and arborist Ian Ashby are saying

Ian Ashby, a certified master arborist who runs Ashby Tree Consulting in Fresno, says the root cutting he has seen near Harvard and Van Ness “goes against all industry standards.” He warns that cutting large roots could cause a tree to fall or die. Ashby’s firm website says he is a member of the board of directors of Tree Fresno, a local tree organization. The reporting does not say whether Ashby has any role in this project.

Sean Dempsey, who has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, says the trees add to the area’s charm and that he would be deeply hurt if they were damaged. He says his concerns are the beauty of the neighborhood, the safety of residents and workers, and whether the city is providing the oversight it should.

The city’s position

Councilmember Annalisa Perea says the roots are being pruned as part of an effort to improve city streets and sidewalks while protecting the trees. She says the city is spending over $100 million to fix streets and sidewalks across Fresno.

Perea says she understands the neighbors’ concerns but that the city must also consider pedestrian safety. She says two elderly women in the area have tripped and been seriously hurt in the past couple of years, and that the city must balance preservation with public safety. Perea did not name the women or provide any record of the falls, so the reporting cannot confirm this claim.

In a written statement to neighbors, Perea says a licensed arborist provides general oversight of the root pruning and that no trees have died as a result. The statement does not name the arborist or give that person’s license number, so the reporting cannot confirm the oversight or the city’s claim that no trees have died.

The Breakdown

• Crews are pruning tree roots during street and sidewalk repairs near Harvard and Van Ness avenues.
• Certified master arborist Ian Ashby, who runs Ashby Tree Consulting and says on his firm’s website that he is on the board of Tree Fresno, says the work “goes against all industry standards” and that large root cuts could cause a tree to fall or die.
• Some residents say they parked their cars in front of the construction to try to stop the work.
• Councilmember Perea says the work is part of a citywide program of more than $100 million for streets and sidewalks.
• Perea’s written statement says a licensed arborist provides general oversight and that no trees have died from the pruning. The statement does not name that arborist.

What residents and voters are saying

Sean Dempsey, who has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, says the trees add to the area’s charm and that he would be deeply hurt if they were damaged. He says his concerns are the beauty of the neighborhood, the safety of residents and workers, and whether the city is providing the oversight it should.

Residents have said they are worried about the trees. Some say they parked their cars in front of the construction to try to stop the work.

The reporting does not include comments from other voters or a survey of the neighborhood, so it cannot show how widely these concerns are shared. Residents who want their views on the record can contact the city council member and the public works department.

What This Means for You

The method for handling tree roots during street work is set by city public works, under the oversight of the council member and the city. Voters who elect Fresno council members can ask why this method is being used on these streets and what the oversight looks like in practice.

Ian Ashby’s warning and Councilmember Perea’s written statement disagree about the risk to the trees. The reporting does not include an independent inspection of these trees, so neither claim is confirmed.

What to Watch

The following points come from the neighbors’ concerns or from general information, not from a documented finding about this project. They are listed as questions for the city to answer.

• Whether any of these trees could fall onto nearby homes or cars. Ian Ashby’s warning is that cutting large roots could cause a tree to fall or die. The reporting does not say how many trees are at that risk.
• Whether Ashby or his firm has any role in this project, including any paid work for the city or its contractors. The reporting does not say.
• Whether the trees are historic or protected. Residents such as Sean Dempsey describe them as part of the neighborhood’s character, but the reporting does not say whether any have an official designation.
• Which licensed arborist Perea’s statement refers to, and who is overseeing the work, and whether the city will publish the oversight reports.
• Whether the two falls Perea describes happened, when, and where. She did not name the women or provide records, so the claim cannot be checked from the reporting.
• Who the licensed arborist is, what license they hold, and whether that person has inspected each tree before and after pruning. The city has not named the arborist, so the credentials and the oversight cannot be checked from the reporting.
• Whether the city’s statement that no trees have died is backed by a documented inspection record.
• Whether the cost of the work is weighed against the number of trees at risk.
• General legal information: under California law, public entities can be held responsible when public works cause damage to private property or create a physical hazard. Residents affected by the work can document the site and file a claim with the City of Fresno’s Risk Management division.